| COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL FACT SHEET OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP AT THE MASSACHUSETTS MILITARY RESERVATION INTRODUCTION This fact sheet provides an overview of cleanup activities at the MMR. It is part of a series of fact sheets developed to address concerns about public health and environmental risk issues associated with the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR). The fact sheet series includes topics such as:
Terms identified in bold are defined in the glossary. HISTORY The MMR is located on the upper western part of Cape Cod. It covers approximately 30 square miles and includes portions of the towns of Bourne, Mashpee, and Sandwich, Falmouth. The MMR sits over the recharge area for the sole source groundwater aquifer on which the towns rely for their drinking water supply. The aquifer, referred to as the Sagamore Lens, is a valuable water supply resource. The MMR has been used heavily by many military organizations dating back to the 1930s when the base was first built. Aircraft runways, aircraft and vehicle maintenance areas, landfills and firefighter training areas were often used for military purposes. These activities required the use of petroleum products, solvents, and other hazardous materials. Various hazardous wastes also were generated onsite. It was common practice for many years at the MMR, as it was at other military bases and industrial facilities throughout the country, to dispose of wastes in unlined landfills and drywells, to dump and burn them at firefighter training areas, or to just dispose of them wherever convenient. In addition, pipeline breaks and accidental spills are known to have occurred at the MMR. Today the generation, use, and disposal of hazardous materials is strictly managed and regulated to protect the environment. The MMR was added to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) National Priority List in 1989 as a result of contamination at the base. Commonly known as "Superfund," the National Priority List is a published list of hazardous waste sites in the country that are of highest priority. The Installation Restoration Program (IRP) is responsible for investigating and cleaning up contamination from past practices at Department of Defense sites. At the MMR, the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE) manages the IRP. The EPA is responsible for ensuring the timely and effective cleanup of the MMR Superfund site by the MMR. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is responsible for ensuring compliance with relevant state environmental regulations and standards. The Superfund program specifically addresses hazardous waste releases resulting from practices discontinued before 1976. Current activities that may affect the environment are not evaluated under Superfund. This is why the environmental investigations at the MMR are not all managed by the IRP. For example, the Massachusetts Army National Guard is responsible for an intensive investigation designed to determine what effects, if any, firearms training operations have had on the groundwater, soils, and sediments beneath the impact area. STATUS OF SITES Investigations at the MMR have identified 79 potential environmental problem areas, known as sites. These sites were identified for further study, and, if necessary, cleanup. Investigation and cleanup of the sites follows the standard Superfund process, which is described on page 2 of this fact sheet. Of the 79 sites, 19 have been completed or cleaned with regulatory concurrence and no further action is needed; 21 have been completed or cleaned and are awaiting regulatory concurrence. The remaining 39 sites are currently in the latter stages of investigation. As part of the cleanup process, 59,949 tons of contaminated soil have been treated from these sites and 185 drainage structure locations have been removed and cleaned. THE SUPERFUND CLEANUP PROCESS The Superfund process consists of several phases that lead to the ultimate goal of cleaning up the site and providing a safe environment for the citizens living near the site. Throughout the process, which is outlined by Federal law and regulations, there is opportunity for local community involvement. First, a detailed study of the site is completed to identify the cause and extent of contamination at the site and the possible threats to the environment and the people nearby. This study is known as a Remedial Investigation (RI). Next, if further action is necessary a Feasibility Study (FS) is prepared to develop the options for cleaning up the site. After the RI and FS are completed, the information in the FS is used to develop and present a Proposed Plan, which is a fact sheet that describes the various cleanup options under consideration and identifies the option preferred by AFCEE. If no further action is recommended, a decision document is prepared and distributed for public comment. The Proposed Plan is distributed to the public, public meetings are held to solicit input, and a public comment period is held. Following the public comment period, AFCEE submits a Record of Decision to the EPA. The Record of Decision describes how AFCEE plans to clean up the site. Upon acceptance by the EPA, a notice is placed in local newspapers to inform the community of the cleanup decision. Next the cleanup system blueprints and associated plans are developed; this is referred to as Remedial Design (RD). Information about the design is distributed to the community and construction of the final remedy begins as outlined in Remedial Action (RA) documents. Once the system is up and running, the project moves into the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) phase. During this phase, review and updates take place, along with a comprehensive evaluation of the system and site performance every five years. GROUNDWATER PLUMES As contaminants filter through the sandy Cape Cod soil, they encounter groundwater. This can result in a groundwater plume (plume). To date, 11 groundwater plumes have been identified that flow from the MMR. Many have moved beyond the base boundary while some remain near their source area. These groundwater plumes are in various stages of study and cleanup. Table 1 provides an overview of the groundwater plumes, including the source of the plume, the status of source treatment, the status of groundwater investigation, the contaminants in the plume, and the status of plume cleanup. Of the 11 groundwater plumes,
The map in this fact sheet shows the groundwater plumes and source areas at the MMR. Additional fact sheets describing the groundwater contamination and plumes in more detail also are available. CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES IN THE COMMUNITY An element critical to the success of the cleanup of groundwater plumes is access to the land located above the crucial areas of contamination in the plumes. For those plumes that have migrated beyond the base boundaries, those areas may be public or private property, in rights-of-way, near recreation areas, and on base property. The property may be required for installing monitoring, extraction, or reinjection wells; laying piping, or installing recirculation wells. Before construction can begun, the appropriate property owners will be contacted by a real estate agent for the Department of Defense. He will outline the exact needs for that property, how long the property will be needed, and answer other questions the property owner may have. AFCEE does not foresee the need for permanent purchase of property, but believes that leases can achieve a satisfactory agreement for all parties. Construction times may vary, depending on the nature of work required. All safety precautions will be taken during construction to protect human health and the environment. For example, geotextile fabric will be used to prevent rutting. The public will be notified before construction begins. Neighborhood notices will be issued in advance. The property owner will be notified. Every effort will be made to avoid commuting hours, school bus stops, seasonal activities such as nesting and hunting seasons, and to keep construction to regular daytime working hours. AFCEE has had exceptional cooperation to date from commercial, private, and public property owners. Without their participation, the cleanup program could not be at the point it is now. AFCEE looks forward to working with the residents of Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, and Sandwich, property owners, and those who enjoy the Upper Cape, to continue cleanup progress. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Additional information about the cleanup program at the MMR is available on the program’s website (http://www.mmr.org). The website includes a variety of information, including technical documents, meetings agendas and summaries, maps, glossaries, weekly reports, and news releases. It also includes links to other websites, including those of EPA Region 1, DEP, DPH, and ATSDR. In addition, five local libraries house information repositories for the cleanup program. The libraries are:
The Administrative Record, which is a public record of all documents used in decision-making, is available for review at the Falmouth Public Library or by contacting the IRP Office at (508) 968-4678. TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF GROUNDWATER PLUMES
* See upcoming fact sheets for more information about these chemicals. TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF GROUNDWATER PLUMES (continued)
FOR MORE INFORMATION
GLOSSARY aquifer: an underground geological formation containing usable amounts of ground water that can supply wells and springs. benzene: a major industrial chemical made from coal and oil, it is to manufacture other chemical compounds, and is a component of gasoline. decision criteria process: a public decision-making process used by the Air Force, EPA, and MassDEP at the MMR to measure, compare, and evaluate plume response alternatives against specific criteria. ethylene dibromide (EDB): a man-made additive that was formerly used in aviation gasoline to control the build-up of lead in engines. extraction, treatment, and reinjection (ETR): a system that extracts groundwater, treats it to reduce or eliminate contaminants and reinjects the treated water into the aquifer. Feasibility Study (FS): a report that identifies and screens potential cleanup alternatives for a site that requires further remedial action. groundwater plume: a concentration of contaminants in groundwater exceeding safe drinking water standards, usually extending from a distinct source. A groundwater plume is defined by multiple samples from multiple wells. perchloroethylene (PCE): also referred to as tetrachloroethylene; a man-made solvent commonly used for metal degreasing and in dry cleaning clothes. proposed plan: a document that summarizes the preferred remedial action for a site and presents the rational for the preference. recharge area: an area of land where there is a net annual transfer of water from the surface to groundwater; where rainwater soaks through the earth to reach an aquifer. recirculating well technology: a process for capturing, treating, and releasing groundwater within the same well. The process is not expected to adversely affect the water table. remedial investigation (RI): an investigation to gather and analyze the data necessary to determine the nature and extent of contamination at a site. sites: the location where contaminant or contaminants enter soil, water, air or sediment. Southwest Operable Unit (SWOU): the SWOU encompasses an area that includes investigation/remediation of three plumes, FS-28, FS-13 and CS-4. trichloroethylene (TCE): a man-made solvent used to dissolve or disperse another substance such as oil and is often used in metal degreasing. This fact sheet was developed through a collaborative effort of the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), Joint Program Office (JPO), and local officials.
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